As the novel coronavirus has a long incubation period and is infectious even during the incubation period, the detection kit with high sensitivity is urgently needed. On February 2, the reporter learned from Tianjin University that the detection kit for the novel coronavirus has been successfully developed by Tianjin University and the R & D team of GenMag Biotechnology Co., Ltd after days and nights of hard work. The kit can detect the suspected cases in their earlier incubation period and detect whether it is the novel coronavirus in one hour, which significantly reduce the detection time.

To ensure specificity and accuracy, the detection kit utilizes specific primers designed by highly conserved sequences in the genome of the existing novel coronavirus, which avoids the influence of other coronaviruses with higher homology. Currently, the kit is going through clinical trials. After being tested and approved by related departments, it will help the disease prevention and control departments and medical institutions at all levels to identify the epidemic rapidly so as to take effective prevention and control measures.

The detection kit is matched with GenMag's automated nucleic acid extraction instruments, nucleic acid extraction reagents, magnetic beads and other consumables to provide a coordinated solution for the rapid detection of the novel coronavirus. Thus, interference brought by the matching difference of different instruments, reagents and detection kits among multiple enterprises on virus nucleic acid detection can be avoided, and accuracy of nucleic acid detection can be improved.

The reporter also learned that Tianjin University is deepening cooperation with GenMag Biotechnology to develop the rapid detection technology that is more challenging, such as the rapid screening of fecal samples and asymptomatic patients in their incubation period.